Faulty fireplace results in close call at Naramata home

PENTICTON – A Naramata resident is fortunate damage to his house wasn’t greater following an unusual fire yesterday evening.

Naramata Fire Chief Tony Trovao says the fire department responded to a call of a structure fire on Granite Place around 8:50 p.m. Monday, Dec.28.

Travao says the resident had the fire mostly out by the time firefighters arrived on scene. The fire was contained to a newly installed gas fireplace that firefighters discovered was installed incorrectly.

“We discovered the fireplace had been improperly installed. A piece of plywood had been left between the unit and the gyprock back of the fireplace,” he says.

Travao says the plywood didn’t take a lot of heat to ignite, and could have resulted in a serious fire had there not been gyprock backing it.

Firefighters used a thermal imaging camera to ensure there was not further ignition behind the fireplace. Travao says the unit was damaged beyond repair as a result of the incident, and gas supply was shut off by Fortis.

Firefighters also had to contend with extremely slippery and icy road conditions in the community, Travao noted.

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